Cyprus-Forum.com

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By Patrick Dewhurst
Published on January 24, 2010 +-Text size

A YOUMG man enters the office where I sit, followed by the sweet smell of incense from the church downstairs. As he sets down the cup of tea, the priest opposite me says: "Now you can write about this man in the paper too!"

The young man looks worried for a moment, then, after reassurance that he won't be named, returns to his duties.

A third man in the room with us, who is translating for the priest, Father Zacharias, explains: "Even here many people are afraid that if they engage (in protests) their families in Egypt will be exposed to more dangers."

The three men are Coptic Christians, and while Father Zacharias is now a permanent resident in Cyprus, the others may return one day. They have invited me to their church in Aglandjia to discuss alleged institutional discrimination and worsening sectarian violence in Egypt, which has became the object of international media attention since six Christians were murdered on the eve of Coptic Christmas on January 7 in Nagaa Hamady, Egypt.

In response to the murders, around 300 Copts in Cyprus (out of around 1,500) marched on Nicosia last Sunday to highlight their perceived discrimination.

Asked about the march, Zacharias said: "We are trying to send a message to the world about the discrimination against us. (Fanatic Muslims) are committing murder while the government discriminates against Christian citizens, and the situation is getting worse."

The Egyptian Ambassador to Cyprus, Ahmed Ragheb, was keen to stress that the vast majority of Egyptians, both Christian and Muslim, peacefully coexist and that this was an isolated incident. "This is a very unusual matter which all communities are against and condemn. The government has dealt with it strongly, arresting the murderers within 48 hours and scheduling a trial for February 13."

"The entire spectrum of Egyptian civil society and professional syndicates issued statements condemning this appalling crime, denouncing sectarian violence and reiterating commitment to national unity," concluded the Egyptian Embassy's statement.

This picture of social unity is, however, very different from that of Zacharias and his translator, who says the Copt community has been on the receiving end of systemic persecution and human rights abuses in recent years.

"We are barred from some jobs, discriminated against in education and cannot practise our religion, because we cannot build churches," says Zacharias.

He listed some of the ways this occurs: Christians must have their religion displayed on identity cards, which precludes them from free state education. Conversion to Islam is legal, but conversion to Christianity is not legally recognised. Christians are banned from marrying Muslim women and Christian women have no automatic inheritance rights. The translator alleges that they cannot be the deans of universities, and church building is curtailed by discriminative policies.

Of course, Christians can always access such entitlements by converting, but something few are able to avoid is the increasing sectarian violence. According to the US Department of States' 2009 report on religious freedom, a culture of impunity has emerged in which fanatic Muslims are dodging punishments by attending "reconciliation sessions", which obviate prosecutions.

Zacharias has compiled a list of all reported attacks.

Is he not afraid of repercussions if he reports this violence? "We feel safe here in Cyprus, and we get along well with all of the Egyptian community and Embassy here. Besides, I am a monk!" Zacharias said.

Since this month’s shooting the Sunday Mail has heard reports that at least 10 Egyptian Christians are now seeking asylum in Cyprus. The Ministry of Interior’s Asylum Service confirmed that around 160 applications for asylum were made by Egyptians in 2009. The service was, however, unable to verify the proportion of applications from the Christian community, or the number of applications granted. Laura Iacovides, an Administrative Officer at the department, did confirm that a small number have been granted.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/features/copts-cyprus-nervously-monitor-shootings/20100124